CLINICAL NURSE I - CERMAK

Cook County•Chicago, IL

2h•$38 - $52•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse I provides professional nursing care to patients/detainees of various ages at Cermak Health Services, using assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The nurse works with patients, correctional officers, physicians, peers, department heads, and the multidisciplinary health team, practices within the scope of the Illinois Nurse Practice Act, and uses critical thinking to support positive patient outcomes. The role includes directing, supervising, and coordinating ambulatory and infirmary personnel, including Licensed Practical Nurses and other nursing support staff, and contributing to improvements in patient care, clinical management, interdepartmental relationships, and patient health education. The nurse provides direct care, assesses and triages patients, administers medications, responds to emergencies, documents care, and coordinates services and patient transport when appropriate. The position also involves unit operations and leadership: making assignments, supporting workflow and staffing, communicating unit activities, maintaining supplies and records, and participating in quality improvement, cost containment, meetings, training, and regulatory compliance. The role is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the National Nurses Organizing Committee. Cook County will first consider eligible internal applicants and is assembling a qualified candidate list for consideration if the position is not filled internally.

Requirements

Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois, or able to obtain Illinois licensure at least two weeks before starting employment.
Current CPR card; proof must be provided at the interview.
Knowledge of medical-surgical standards of care, skin and wound care, hypertension and its side effects, diabetes care and management, fluids and electrolytes, and routine laboratory tests.
Knowledge of ambulatory care standards and basic nursing management of oncology patients, patients with respiratory disturbances, TB or asthma, patients with head trauma or neurological disturbances, patients with musculoskeletal challenges, and patients requiring restorative care.
Knowledge and demonstrated skills in nursing management of renal patients.
Good physical assessment skills.
Competence in managing patients requiring intravenous therapy, acquiring venous access, drawing blood, and performing point-of-care testing.
Ability to insert and manage nasogastric tubes and care for patients with digestive disturbances.
Ability to meet all required qualifications at the time of application filing.

Nice To Haves

One year of recent paid clinical experience, within the last three years, in acute care or an ambulatory facility.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
Drug or alcohol dependency experience or case management experience.
Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

Responsibilities

Apply and document all elements of the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care for patients of all ages.
Use a multidisciplinary approach, critical thinking, and clinical judgment to provide high-quality patient care.
Delegate tasks to Licensed Practical Nurses and other support staff while retaining responsibility for patient care; provide supervision and support to those staff.
Work with patients, families, and healthcare workers to support patients' attainable levels of wellness.
Assess and triage patients, including reviewing detainee Health Request Forms, promoting patient education, and identifying illness-prevention needs.
Participate in unit meetings, decision-making, cost-containment efforts, quality-improvement activities, committees, team conferences, staff meetings, and in-service presentations.
Follow patient-care policies, procedures, standards of practice, institutional requirements, and regulatory standards.
Maintain attendance and punctuality, complete at least 12 hours of annual in-service education, maintain knowledge of correctional standards, and attend mandatory training.
Maintain current professional licensure, CPR, and other required professional certifications.
Assist with orienting new personnel.
Administer medications in accordance with policies and practice standards; ensure medication passage to assigned detainees and document refusals or omissions.
Conduct patient rounds on units and tiers, assess healthcare needs, and evaluate patient needs, care delivered, census, and care requirements.
Assess emergency-care needs, take appropriate action, use emergency equipment, and facilitate transport to the emergency room when appropriate.
Collaborate with physicians, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, healthcare team members, and correctional staff.
Promote positive customer relations and maintain professional conduct, confidentiality, ethics, safety, appearance, and communication.
Support unit functioning, serve as a resource to unit personnel, report unit problems and activity to the House Administrator when the Nurse Coordinator is unavailable, and communicate unit activities to the Nurse Coordinator.
Make or adjust staff assignments as needed, assist with prioritization and delegation, arrange staffing for the oncoming shift, and provide adequate reports to the charge nurse or manager.
Coordinate with support systems to maintain adequate supplies and equipment for the current and incoming shifts.
Implement physician orders and nursing directives; collect assessment data, initiate care plans, and document care provided.
Maintain inventory of medical supplies and equipment, prepare requisitions, and assist with clinic records and logs.
Assist providers with medical tasks and respond to emergency situations.
Foster professional growth through annual goal setting and monitoring.
Perform other duties as assigned.